Sorry to rain on the other reviewers' parade. Yes, it was a page-turner, and I did read it through to its Hollywood ending. That's why I gave it 3 stars, BUT the book has some major flaws. First of all, Arturo has the world knowledge, vocabulary, and diction of a college graduate -- he doesn't come across as a high-school dropout, Chicano ex-con raised in East Los Angeles. Second, Murphy as well as every other character in the book is a cardboard cutout with no deeply-drawn relationship to real personhood. Yes, they do human things, but it's all on the surface. The author points the way, but he doesn't take us there. Third, the author dwells in boring length on the interior furnishings and layouts of houses and other buildings the way some women authors dwell on the hair, jewelry, and clothing of their women characters. And lastly, the final solution is a cop-out (no pun intended). How can one believe that Roy, a retired police chief from a small Wisconsin town, could be the "RL" to whom DiMarco delivers payoff cash in a Hollywood hotel? How could the diabolical, detailed machinations of "RL" be managed in Los Angeles from far-off Wisconsin? Simply not believable.

To sum up, I believe that the present reviewers as well as those cited in the book itself have done Raymond Chandler a great wrong by evoking his name in connection with this book.

Average Rating:

Rating: - A Dissenting Opinion
Sorry to rain on the other reviewers' parade. Yes, it was a page-turner, and I did read it through to its Hollywood ending. That's why I gave it 3 stars, BUT the book has some major flaws. First of all, Arturo has the world knowledge, vocabulary, and diction of a college graduate -- he doesn't come across as a high-school dropout, Chicano ex-con raised in East Los Angeles. Second, Murphy as well as every other character in the book is a cardboard cutout with no deeply-drawn relationship to real personhood. Yes, they do human things, but it's all on the surface. The author points the way, but he doesn't take us there. Third, the author dwells in boring length on the interior furnishings and layouts of houses and other buildings the way some women authors dwell on the hair, jewelry, and clothing of their women characters. And lastly, the final solution is a cop-out (no pun intended). How can one believe that Roy, a retired police chief from a small Wisconsin town, could be the "RL" to whom DiMarco delivers payoff cash in a Hollywood hotel? How could the diabolical, detailed machinations of "RL" be managed in Los Angeles from far-off Wisconsin? Simply not believable.

To sum up, I believe that the present reviewers as well as those cited in the book itself have done Raymond Chandler a great wrong by evoking his name in connection with this book.

Rating: - A well-conceived and well-executed story
One never knows where great writers will pop up. David J. Sherman has dabbled at a variety of vocations, from truck driver to record store owner. He turned to writing full time in 1998, starting with short stories, and joined all the writing organizations. The Dark Side is his first published mystery. Originally hailing from Racine, Wisconsin, David is now a Southern California resident with his wife, daughter, and black Lab named Emily.

Jack Murphy is a private investigator, having gone through one of the most painful experiences in his former life as a cop...accidently shooting a kid. His wife has left him for greener pastures, but still enjoys needling him. His secretary and he have a sexually charged relationship, and anyone on the outside can see they are mad for each other. Raymond Sanders hires Jack to find his missing daughter. This is Jack's first missing persons case, but it doesn't take him long to figure out that Carrie Sanders has become a sex slave to a high profile scumbag. His investigation leads from a child pornography video operation to the exportation of young girls to parts unknown:

"His eyes seemed to puff out and get redder than they already were. 'Look, I graduated from the New York Film Institute. I'm a real producer.' 'Why not get a decent job, then?'

Mike dropped his stare to the desktop. 'DiMarco runs some card games around town and I got into him deep. He told me I had a choice. I could either pay off my debt, or work it off.'"

Told from the traditional first person, private dick with Arturo "the muscle"as his sidekick, the plot of The Dark Side is old hat. However, David J. Sherman manages to infuse new life into the L.A. Confidential type of plot. Jack Murphy comes across as a guy with a lot of heart who needs taking care of by his tatoo decorated side kick, Arturo, who provides muscle and also a lot of heart. The twist is, in this case, the prominent businessmen are the true vultures and the struggling private eyes are the true heroes. Sherman's characters sparkle with emotion, as his plot draws the reader in for a ride that establishes a higher notch for right and wrong, justice and injustice. Sherman has produced a well-conceived and well-executed story that breathes new life into the concept of what has gone wrong in the world. An exciting and satisfying read.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

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Rating: - An excellent page turner
A missing teenage girl disappears from a small town in Wisconsin and a desperate father pleads with Jack Murphy to find her. Jack normally doesn't handle missing person's cases, but after finding out the PI hired to find Carrie was murdered, Jack becomes intrigued.

What happens next is a page turning ride right to the very end of the book.

If you like a heart pounding, Raymond Chandler type of LA noir with a twist of compassion, read THE DARK SIDE.

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Rating: - New Pi Series off to a great start
You can tell just by reading this book that David Sherman loves the classic PI novels. You can almost feel Chandler in the background. It's well written and well executed. Hip, modern and enjoyable.

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Rating: - A Five-Star LA Noir
I heard David Sherman speak as a member of the Mystery Writers of America's panel at the prestigious Santa Barbara Festival of Books. I'd planned to see Ray Bradbury receive a lifetime achievement award, but Mr. Bradbury arrived late. I settled for the mystery panel, and I wasn't disappointed.

David Sherman spoke extensively about his on-the-spot and in-the-field research for his debut mystery, THE DARK SIDE. His research shines through in the novel. It marks the debut of Jack Murphy, an LA detective of today. The plotline involves Murphy being hired to find a missing teenager. Complications arise, and Murphy struggles both to find the girl and himself. The book features believable villians and fascinating secondary characters. This work represents the best of noir fiction being written today.

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